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Overall, the Sage may be polemical on a level like few other than Dead Prez, but he also has a metaphysical side matched by few other than Jeru tha Damaja.
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Alternative PressIf he isn't a sage yet, he does sound like a future star. [Feb 2005, p.94]
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There are certain instances when Francis' politics overreach, like on the annoying "Dance Monkey,” but for the most part, “A Healthy Distrust” is this artist's most impressive album yet.
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BlenderHis fire-and-brimstone confessionals are as complex as they are venomous. [Mar 2005, p.140]
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On A Healthy Distrust his delivery has noticeably improved.
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It’s a virulent mixture of political discourse, political polemic, self-aggrandizement, self-diminution, childish humor, and intelligent irony; but, above all, everything is pulled off with undeniable character.
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His talents seemingly know no bounds, and A Healthy Distrust is as close as he’s come to fully realising such a dominating on-stage character on a recorded format.
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Entertainment WeeklyThe rapper's ferocity makes him a good fit for punk label Epitaph. [11 Feb 2005, p.63]
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FilterFrancis... [is] a complex, fantastically literate and genuine wordsmith and poet. [#14, p.99]
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Los Angeles TimesAt once stern and playful, wildly scattered and yet sharply honed by the artist's sheer will and reach. [6 Feb 2005]
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MojoA Healthy Distrust turns his scouring insight upon America's turbulent recent history, the response of a vulnerable, impassioned, imperfect man. [Mar 2005, p.106]
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His weighty messages are duly noted. Unfortunately, they're delivered so acrimoniously that the overwhelming lack of fun in the music makes his albums a chore to listen to.
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New Musical Express (NME)It's often hugely clever... but tends to forget that the best metaphors are the ones that make you crack involuntary smiles, not the ones that require five minutes and a dictionary. [26 Feb 2005, p.66]
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His style has finally caught up with his intellect, and while his beats are passable but unexceptional, his voice locks onto and scans over them so ferociously they're almost obliterated.
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He doesn't plunder, he interweaves - stuff gets thoroughly snake-charmed into his densely-packed music.
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Sage transcends genre limitations and expectations with restless energy and poetic turns of phrase that keep his mystery (or, arguably, his lack of defined answers) intriguing rather than irritating.
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It is uncompromising, brutally honest... and adroit at melding many genres together without losing sight of the fact it is first a hip-hop record.
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Q MagazineFinds him in fine rhyming form... even if the beats aren't always there to back him up. [Mar 2005, p.104]
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Sage Francis is obviously not for everyone. Though he is a gifted lyricist, he is hard to follow, and the entirety of "A Healthy Distrust" has a rough edge that makes it far from easy listening.
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A Healthy Distrust reinforces Sage Francis’ standing as one of the most verbally gifted rappers currently in the game, but it lacks the cohesive flow of Personal Journals and complains about a host of worldly ills without offering much in the way of a positive solution.
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A Healthy Distrust is impressively fluid; Francis fuses his experimental leanings and newer mainstream hip-hop allowances with ease.
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A Healthy Distrust’s production and wordplay have improved to such a large degree that it’s hard to believe that it could happen again on the next outing.
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The WireThe record makes you marinate in Francis' omni-loathing, and the effect is one of catharsis rather than exhaustion. [#254, p.57]
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Distrust is crucial not only as the resurrection of the passion and soul of hip-hop in the face of the overwhelming monetary success of pop-hop, but as a vital questioning of feudal policy, raising awareness, and sounding good doing it.
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UncutCements his reputation for fast, witty, lyrically dense politico-personal rhymes. [Mar 2005, p.99]
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UrbIf you're over 25, then expect to find yourself peering at your old teen angst like some sort of barely remembered dream. [Jan/Feb 2005, p.95]
User score distribution:
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Positive: 29 out of 34
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Mixed: 2 out of 34
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Negative: 3 out of 34
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Feb 29, 2016
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RichardHMay 15, 2007
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JeremySep 15, 2005"Contemporary house of pain" - who the ef is this clown? Unfortunately those who cannot think for themselves talk far too much. Thanks again sage.